"Jack McKinney - Robotech Sentientals 4 - World Killers" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

here on Haydon IV that was impossible. But intrigue, like warfare, was an art
the Opterans had acquired after Zor destroyed their idyllic existence. And so,
the Regent knew there were certain games that must be played, and played to
best effect. Thus, this interview.
"No, you will find me most reasonable and benevolent, as I have been
here today," the Regent added, knowing the planet itself was listening. "And
how goes the healing?"
Cabell had found his nerve again. He smoothed his flowing, embroidered
robes, shrugged to resettle the high, stiff collar that surrounded his head,
and stroked the white beard that nearly reached his waist. "Rather well, we
think, though it's difficult to tell. The Haydonites are using a sort of
therapy employing their arts of nanoengineering. Prognoses are good."
"How fortunate for them." The Regent nodded, but he was silently angry
that the effects of exposure to Garuda's biosphere hadn't killed the Hunters
and the rest. "And now that you have brought me this report, you may go." The
Regent gestured to his bodyguard commander to show the visitors out.
"Just a moment." Cabell stopped him. "There is the question of my
apprentice, the young clone Rem. I ask you to release him to us, that he may
undergo the treatments, too."
"I am not finished with Rem quite yet," the Regent said hatefully,
glancing down at them. Even seated, the tyrant overshadowed them like some
pharaonic statue. "And as for you, you may go."
Now it was Cabell's turn to bristle; the anger in his voice quite
surprised the Regent. "Not until you let me see that boy! Not until we take
him for proper care!"
Hearing his tone, both Hellcats came to their feet, spitting and showing
their long fangs. But Cabell was undeterred, meeting the Regent's fury with
fury of his own.
 Veidt spoke before Cabell could, though. "Great Regent! All the galaxy
has heard of your vast intellect and spirit. Here now is your chance to prove
that you can show mercy. Consider what praise it will win you! Why, word of it
would reach even to the Regis herself."
Sly, the Regent mused, studying Veidt. For a race of artificial beings,
the Haydonites showed surprising emotion and understanding of motivation.
Veidt had touched a nerve. Very likely, the Regis's spies would inform
her of such a matter as the Regent's showing mercy-or if not, his own agents
could see to it that she heard. More than almost anything, he wanted to win
her back. And while his headlong plunge into deevolution kept him from truly
understanding those impulses that guided his onetime mate, the Regent thought
that mercy shown to the Zor-clone would certainly please her.
So he said, "Rem has already received the treatments I have permitted
your companions to undergo, for I am not through with him as yet. Be that as
it may, I will grant you a compromise solution: you may visit him in his
confinement, provided that you try to get him to see reason."
The Regent's subject planetary systems, if they were eavesdropping,
would no doubt register that in the Regent's favor. He was quite proud of
himself. He had turned the bothersome visit of Veidt and Cabell around so that
he might profit from it in a number of ways.
And, with a little luck, he had bought enough time to come up with a way
of slaying the Sentinels once and for all.